Recreational Abalone Fishery Survey

Recreational abalone fishing effort is concentrated on the Roe's abalone along the west coast and Perth metro inshore reefs, though greenlip and brownlip abalone may be taken, mainly on the southern coast.

To protect vulnerable and accessible abalone populations, the season is restricted to 1½ hours each day for six or seven weeks in November/December, depending on stock assessments, and a licence is required. Bag and size limits apply and a mandatory penalty of 10 times the value of the catch has make breaches very expensive.

It was estimated that 35 tonnes of Roe's abalone were taken by recreational fishers in the metro fishery in the 2002 season.
Project and activity description:

The project will:

* monitor the recreational take from the Perth metropolitan Roe's abalone fishery, and measure the stock composition after the metropolitan season, in order to set sustainable management targets for the subsequent year;

* undertake a preliminary assessment of the recreational take of abalone from the fishing areas outside the Perth metropolitan area, concentrating on the South Coast abalone fishery; and
* assist management decision makers with advice on the state of Roe's abalone stocks in the Perth metropolitan fishery, and levels of utilisation of all abalone stocks by the recreational sector.

Time : ongoing